Indicator for internal combustion engines



Sept. 22, 1931. M. B. BLEECKER 1,323,833

INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 8. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l l 5 J INVENTOR Warm/v0 Q EECAE/Q ATTORN M. B. BLEECKER 1,823,883

INDICATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sepia, 22, Egg? INVENTOR flgA /u nA/o 5455mm? ATTORNEY l atented Sept. 22, 193i S i i'll MAITLAND B. BLEEGKER, OF HEMPSTEAD, YORK, ASSIGITOE TO WRIGHT AERO- NAUTICAL CORPORATION, A CQRPORATIUN OF NEW YORK i INDICATOR non INTERNAL COMBUSTZON nNeiNns I 7 Application filed July 8, 1980. Serial No. 466,491.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more specifically to a firing indicator therefor. I

As is described in an application of Henry T. White, Serial No. 370,942, there has been developed a method. of starting internal combustion engines by the useoi' explosive cartridges. This method is especially valuable in starting internal combustion engines where there are no facilities provided for crankingthe engine and where usual methods of turning the engineover are inconvenient. It is furthermore very useful in starting internal combustion engines in cold weather even though cranking facilities are provided becausethe oil becomes so still in cold weather that it is very difficult to turn the engine over by the ordinary cranking methods. 8 7

However, in using such cartridges for starting engines, it is necessaryto discover which cylinder is on the firing stroke and to place the cartridge in that cylinder. Usually, prior to my invention, operators have been compelled to remove parts of the cylinder such as spark plugs from several cylinders in order to discover which isthe proper one in which to insert the cartridge or after having removed the part from some one cylinder by chance, it has been usually necessary to turn the engine over by hand until that particular cylinder arrives at the point in the cycle at which it is on its firing stroke.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for easily and accurately determining the proper cylinder in which a starting cartridge should be placed in order to start an internal combustion engine thereby.

A further object of my invention is to provide means to accurately and quickly determine the position of the piston in each cylinder and especially in the cylinder about to fire in order that the cartridge may be placed in said cylinder with the piston at the position which will most eiilciently fa cilitate the starting of the motor.

Furtherobjects will be apparent from a reading of the subjoined specification and;

claims and from consideration of the 'accompanying drawings.

In order to explain theinvention more clearly, one embodiment thereof is shown in said drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a View in elevation or an internal combustion engine equipped with a device constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2is a vertical'section or" the internal combustion engine shown in Fig. 1 taken" .substantlallyon the line 22 thereof;

Fig. is a vertical section of part of the internal combustion engine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 taken substantially on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2; Q

Fig. 4c is a vertical sectionot the internal combustion engine shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, takensubstantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 isa view in elevation and on an enlarged scale of a detail or" the indicating device shown in Fig. 1. v In general, the device used for illustration or my invention comprises an indicator shaft driven by the crank shaft of the internal combustion engine and geared to move at exactly onehali the speed of the crank shaft. Theindicator shaft carries at its outer end an indicator pointer which travels over the face of a dial provided with numbers representing the cylinders of the motor.

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein similarrefere'nce characters are used to indicate the same or like parts, I have shown an airlcooled radial internal combustion engine generally designated 11 equipped with a crank shaft 12 which is adapted to drive a propeller hub 13. The engine includes various accesori'es of which there are shown two magnetos l4 and 15. -As shown. in'

Fig. 2 the crank shaft 12 carries a spur gear 16 which mesheswith and drives two other spur gears 17 and 18. The gears 17 and 18 are secured toand drive the vmagneto drive shafts 21 and 22, respectively. The magnetos 14 and 15 are driven by the shafts 21 and 22. As shown in Fig; 3 the shaft 22 extends rearward from the spur gear 18 toward the magneto 15 and has secured rearward of said spur gear 18 a bevel gear 23 which meshes with a bevel gear ,24. The bevel gear 24 is secured to a shaft 25 which extends, substantially vertically upward from the shaft 22 and protrudes out of the crank case ofthe motor as at 26 (Fig. 1)

for the purpose of driving an accessory of the motor such as a gun synchronizer or tachometer. Another bevel gear 27 secured to a shaft 28 also meshes with the bevel gear 23 and may be used to drive the fuel pump. Secured to the shaft 25 is a worm 31 which meshes with a worm wheel 32 secured upon a substantially horizontal shaft 33. Aligned with and keyed to the shaft 33 is an indicator shaft 34. Secured to the other end'ofthe shaft 34 is a pointer 35 adapted to move over the face of a dial 36. The dial is provided with a seriesof spaced numerals such as 37 for cooperating with the pointer 35 to indicate the cylinder of the internal combustion engine which is just I past top dead center on the firing stroke.-

Also secured to the shaft 34 is a bevel. gear 38- which meshes with another bevel gear 39 used for driving a tachometer through mechanism contained within the flexible tachometer tube 41.

worm 31 and-the worm gear 32 is such that the shaft 34 turns at one half speed of the crank shaft 12.

It is thought thatthe operation of the device illustrated will be clear from the above description. 7 The crank shaft 12 drives through the, gears 16 and 18the magneto shaft 22. The 'magneto shaft 22 through the bevel gears 23 and 24 drives the gun synchronizer shaft 25, and the worm 31. The latter through the worm gear 32 drives the transverse shaft 33 and with it the indicator shaft 34. The indicator shaft 34 causes the rotation of the indicator pointer 35 at one half engine speed. Inasmuch as the hand 35 is initially secured to the shaft 34 insuch' a position that the hand points to the number of the cylinder "at which the piston has just passed topdead center on the firing stroke, and inasmuch as the numbers indicating the cylinders are equally spaced and in firing order sequence, the hand continues always to point at the number of the cylinder which is in'the proper position for receiving the firing cartridge. It is'to be noted that the numbers of the'cylinders as placed. on the dials are not arranged in The gear ratios be-v "tween the gears 16 and 18 and between the 2. In an internal combustion engine, a

crank shaft, an indicator shaft, means driven by said crank shaft for causing said indicator shaft to rotateat one half the speed of rotation of the crank shaft, a pointer attached to the indicator shaft, an indicator dial overwhich the pointer passes, and a tachometer shaft driven by said indicator shaft.

- 0. In a multiple cylinder internal combllStlOl'l engine, a plurality of engine cylinders adapted for firing in a pre-determined firing order, a crank shaft, a visible dial having markings thereon bearing a certaln definite relation to the number of and firing order of said cylinders, an indicator element movable across said dial for indi-. eating with the aid of sa1d markings which of the several cylinders is next in order'for firing, and a directconnection between said indicating element and said crank shaft.

4. In a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, a plurality of engine cylinders, a piston for each of said cylinders, a crank shaft, a visible dial having markings thereon bearing a certain definite relation to the number of and firing order of said cylinders, an indicator element movable across said dial for indicating with the aid "of said markings, the approximate position of a piston within a selected cylinder, and a direct connection between said indicating element and said crank shaft. 3

j 5. In a multiple cylinder internalcombustion engine, a plurality of engine cylinders adapted for firing in a predetermined firing order, a crankshaft, a visible dial having markings thereon bearing a certain definite relation to the number of and firing order of said cylinders, an indicator element movable across said dial for indicating with the 'aid of said markings which of the several cylinders is next in order for firing, an indicator shaft upon which said indicator element is mounted, a direct connection between said indicator shaft and said crankshaft, and a tachometer shaft driven by said indicator shaft. r I

6. In a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, a plurality of engine cylinders.

MAITLAND B. BLEECKER. 

